EASTERN PYRENEES ULTRA CYCLING CHALLENGE
The ultra bikepacking series for cyclists who love to climb mountains
Tourmalet
Ultra Bike Pursuit
New to Bikepacking or Experienced Ultra Bike Racer — Choose your challenge level!
The Tourmalet Pursuit will have you discover the best of the oriental Pyrenees.
The Hautacam Pursuit, the best of the Occidental Pyrenees.
The Ultimate Pyrenees Pursuit combines both of these events into one.
Tourmalet and Hautacam Pursuits each offer three levels of challenge. There are options for all.
TOURMALET PURSUIT
Departure Date: September 19, 2021 / 9:00 AM
Location: Central & Eastern Pyrenees (France, Spain & Andorra)
The Tourmalet Ultra Bike Pursuit begins in the heart of the Hautes-Pyrenees, travels to the Mediterranean coast, and returns to the Hautes-Pyrenees. You'll finish with the legendary climb of Tourmalet which has been featured in more Tour de France events than any other climb. This route includes many iconic French climbs such as Aspin, Peyresourde, Port-de-Bales, Col-de-Pailheres; famous Andorran climbs such as Arcalis, and several Vuelta climbs, including one of Alberto Contador’s all-time favorites. You have three distances to choose from, and the option to ride them all on asphalt or with gravel sections.
TOURMALET ITINERARIES
Choose your distance and elevation:
Tourmalet Discovery Loop: 512 km / 12,000m
Time Limit: 5 Days (120 hrs)
Tourmalet Adventure Loop: 1,141 km / 18,000m
Time Limit: 6 Days (144 hrs)
Tourmalet Hardcore Loop: 1,420 km / 26,000m
Time Limit: 6 Days (144 hrs)
The Discovery loop is perfect for cyclist new to the sport of bikepacking. The Adventure loop will challenge experienced ultra bikepackers. The Hardcore loop will push the limits of the most experienced ultra cyclists.
Gravel Options
The Tourmalet Hardcore loop features 164 km of optional Gravel sections with 6000m of elevation. These options will reduce the full Hardcore Loop by 90 km and 1000m of elevation. The shorter distance and lower elevation gain will offset the Gravel challenge. This will put Gravel fans and pure Roadies on a leveled play ground.
TOURMALET — DISCOVERY LOOP
Tourmalet Discovery Loop: 512 km / 12,000 m
The Discovery Loop is the easiest Ultra Bike Pursuit option, but the relatively high elevation gain over only 512 kilometers makes it a good challenge and deserves all bragging rights. It's a perfect distance for cyclists looking to discover the sport of bikepacking. Unlike the Adventure and Hardcore, this loop does not stretch all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. The Discovery Loop is entirely in France. You will never be too far from the start/finish location.
It features eleven epic Tour de France climbs such as: Tourmalet, Luz-Ardiden, Soulor, Aubisque, Portet and Aspin.
You need to average 102 km with 2400 m of daily elevation to finish within the allowed 120 hrs (5-day) limit.
We invite cyclists who would be able to ride this course in a couple of days to consider our Adventure or Hardcore Loop instead.
TOURMALET — ADVENTURE LOOP
Tourmalet Adventure Loop: 1,141 km / 18,000 m
Experienced bikepackers looking for an amazing mountain experience will enjoy the Adventure Loop. Like the Hardcore Loop, this itinerary will take you all the way to the Mediterranean Sea and back. It’s a good distance for those who wish to sleep at night to enjoy all the scenery during the daytime.
It features 14 epic climbs including: Tourmalet, Port de Bales, Peyresourde, Aspin, Port de Pailheres, La Creueta and Envalira.
You need to average 192 km with 3000 m of daily elevation to finish within the allowed 144 hrs (6-day) limit.
If it seems a lot, you may prefer the Discovery Loop. If it seems easy, the Hardcore Loop will push your limits.
TOURMALET — HARDCORE LOOP
Tourmalet Hardcore Loop: 1,420 km / 26,000 m
Our Hardcore Loop features ten more climbs than the Adventure Loop. You'll discover superb mountains you'd never ride on your own. You will ride through and marvel at the best Pyrenees scenery.
The most experienced bikepackers will be able to push their limits on the Hardcore Loop. The strongest may be able to ride it in 3 or 4 days. Most people venturing on these loops will likely take 5 or the full 6 days. It features 25 epic climbs including: Tourmalet, Port de Bales, Peyresourde, Aspin, Port de Pailheres, La Creueta and Envalira.
You need to average 237 km with 4330 m of daily elevation to finish within the allowed 144 hrs (6-day) limit.
If this seems like a lot, you may prefer the Adventure or Discovery Loop. If it seems easy, you can ride the Hardcore Loops of the Tourmalet and Hautacam events back-to-back. That's what we named the "Ultimate Pyrenees" event.
Take a look at the climbing profile for the Tourmalet Hardcore Loop that features 25 major climbs
"Tourmalet" Ultra Bike Pursuit — Eastern Pyrenees
500 km / 12,000m -or- 1,400 km / 26,000m
Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime?
Are you ready to ride all the legendary Pyrenees mountain climbs of the Tour de France but aren’t sure which to tackle first?
The Ultra Bike "Tourmalet" and "Hautacam" Pursuits will satisfy your sense of adventure, overwhelm you with pleasure and pain, and provide you with an incredible feeling of accomplishment, as well as more bragging rights than any other road cycling events.
Complete an Ultra Bike Pursuit and become a climbing king.
Ultra Bike Pursuit
The World's Toughest Ultra‑Cycling Road Challenges
and luckily there are also short-loop options!
AUGUST 2020 - COVID UPDATE!
For the safety, peace of mind and enjoyment of our participants, because of the increasing COVID threat in Spain, we’ve re-designed the 2020 Ultra Bike Pursuit event to be entirely on the French territory without any border crossing. This new itinerary is as spectacular and challenging as the original.
2020 New Itineraries (COVID UPDATE)
FRANCE ONLY!
New Updated 2020 France Only Itineraries
Hautacam Pursuit:
Discovery loop: 550 km / 12,000m
Hardcore loop: 1,200 km / 26,000m
Tourmalet Pursuit:
Discovery loop: 500 km / 12,000m
Hardcore loop: 1,100 km / 20,000m
Recent Blog Posts
Ultra Bike Pursuit - Instagram Feed
Follow the event Live!
from September 6th 8:00 AM French time
Live this event Live from your phone or computer and cheer these amazing participants!
These incredible cyclists need all your help. Follow them live and cheer them up. You can do so on our blog, Facebook and Instagram pages.
How to best follow the Ultra Bike Pursuit
You can zoom in and out. You can select the itinerary/event you want to focus on (click on the scholar icon for advanced view). The 4th icon shows all itineraries. Click on it and hide or show the itinerary/elevation profiles you wish to see. Click on the first icon to see all the participants. You can click on the 123/ABC icon to toggle between names and bib numbers. You can even play the history of the event to see how it unfolded while you were away. Click the question mark icon for info on how to use all features.
For even greater fun, you can view the detailed climbing profile for all major climbs in our Climb blog.
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